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When you’re pregnant, it’s natural to feel tired more often than not. You have a life growing inside you, after all. You might want to put your feet up and rest on the couch after a long day of work, and thinking about preparing meals for the night might just be the thing that makes you want to cry. Don’t worry; it’s normal to feel this way. You’re not the only one, and every pregnant woman might struggle with it, especially because you have to eat the right kind of food — healthy, nutritious, and appealing to your taste buds (courtesy: nausea). We know that it might be a difficult task, so we are here to help you make it easier. Here are nine things you can do to make mealtimes less of a struggle:
Mealtime Prep: Making A Plan
The first step to simplifying your prepping process is to plan your meals ahead of time. It might take a little bit of time and effort, but it’s really worth it. Here’s what you can do:
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1. List Out The Recipes
Make a list of healthy and easy recipes, so you don’t have to break your head thinking about what to prepare every day. You can speak to your doctor to understand your nutritional needs and prepare a food chart accordingly. Take inspiration from apps and food bloggers who come up with recipes that are easy to make, use healthy ingredients, and require very little prep time.
2. Keep Your Appliances Ready
Every person has a different kind of cooking style. They are comfortable doing things their own way and like to use appliances, utensils, and ingredients of their own choice. Keep a few things that you regularly use readily accessible.
3. Order Groceries Online
With the advancement of technology and smartphones, you can purchase groceries with the tap of a button. Buying groceries online and getting them delivered to your doorstep saves you the time and effort of visiting a store. You are always saved from the problem of purchasing items you don’t need when you visit a grocery store.
Streamlining Mealtime: Meal Prep Tips
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Some of these tips can help you while prepping your meals. Scroll below to find out what they are:
4. Prep Ingredients In Advance
Wash and cut vegetables and fruits in advance so you can save time while preparing your meals. You can also keep some hard-boiled eggs in the fridge to grab as a quick snack or breakfast.
5. Cook In Large Batch
If your meals take a lot of time to make, make double the amount and freeze the leftovers for later. There is nothing wrong with eating food that was prepared a day before. In fact, some curries even taste better the next day! So if you’re making chicken for lunch, make a little extra and have some for dinner too.
6. Don’t Do It Alone
If there’s a time to ask for your partner’s help, it’s now. Share the workload, and it’ll become less stressful for you. You can also ask your little ones/in-laws to lend a helping hand. If your partner is not good at cooking, they can help prepare the meals or wash dishes.
7. Pre-prepared Meals Are Not Your Enemy
You might not be a fan of pre-prepared meals, but they are not a bad option during emergencies. When you’re having one of those days where you don’t have the energy (or patience) to cook, you can opt for a ready-to-eat meal.
Your Baby’s Arrival: How To Plan
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If you think you have it hard during pregnancy, wait until your baby is born. It’s going to be twice as hard! No, we don’t mean to scare you, but we want you to be prepared for it. Here are some tips to help you:
8. Prepare Easy Meals That You Can Freeze
Meals that you can freeze are underrated. Cook your meals and make large portions of them so that you can freeze the leftovers and use them for later. It’s a great way to save time and ensure that you eat healthy homemade meals.
9. Don’t Be Afraid To Accept Food From Your Loved Ones
Your loved ones want to help you in any way they can, so don’t be afraid to accept their offer to drop off food. It’s one of the best ways they can help you, and it’s better than ordering in when you’re a new mom (although ordering some delicious food from your favorite restaurant once in a while is not a problem).
All in all, remember that food is a big part of your pregnancy journey, and it’s important to try and make your life easier in any way you can while getting the proper nutrition. So while you prepare for your little one’s arrival, make sure you prepare to make your life easier too. What are the difficulties you faced while preparing your meals during pregnancy? Comment below and let us know how you made it easy!
